Native Americans held great respect for natural systems while also managing the landscape to support their people and way of life. As “civilization” came to this area Chicago became a military outpost, village, city and metropolis and its residents were confronted with the elemental and reoccurring issue of controlling water — both fresh and waste water. Managing this cycle of use and renewal the city has over the decades repeatedly invested millions into various projects to drain the land, process waste, and modify the waterways for both sanitation and navigation. These major projects have included altering waterways, building canals, tunnels, and water works and treatment facilities to make the greater Chicago area livable and comfortable on a day-to-day basis for the millions of residents and annual visitors each year.

In this episode we will discuss how Chicago came to not only reverse the Y-shaped river running through its downtown, but also the precedents and solutions to regulate fresh water, sewage, flooding, and growing needs of the population. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) formerly known as The Sanitary District was created in 1889 to manage the area’s water resources and was tasked with building the Sanitary & Ship Canal to protect Lake Michigan and our source for drinking water. Toward this end we speak with Dick Lanyon who is an author, historian and retired MWRD engineer to explain this amazing story of political power and engineering genius that created the evolving regional system of water management for Chicagoland.

Links to Research and Historic Sources:

One comment on “Episode 23 – Reversing the Chicago River

  1. Kamy says:

    Hi! Thanks for covering this topic in your podcast! I found it helpful and entertaining. I would like to make a suggestion for future installments if they are in the works: the sound effects are cool but they arise at inappropriate times ): I had a hard time hearing Richard Lanyon during some good parts. I totally understand and appreciate what sound effects do for podcasts and am not asking you remove them! Maybe just time them better (: you want to add, not take away! Thanks so much again, take care.

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